Intrinsics

Intrinsics provide an implementation-specific way to extend the FIRRTL language with new operations.

Intrinsics are currently implemented as annotated external modules. We expect that native FIRRTL support for intrinsics will be added to the language.

Motivation ¶

Intrinsics provide a way to add functionality to FIRRTL without having to extend the FIRRTL language. This allows a fast path for prototyping new operations to rapidly respond to output requirements. Intrinsics maintain strict definitions and type checking.

Supported Intrinsics ¶

Annotations here are written in their JSON format. A “reference target” indicates that the annotation could target any object in the hierarchy, although there may be further restrictions in the annotation.

circt.sizeof ¶

Returns the size of a type. The input port is not read from and may be any type, including uninferred types.

circt.isX ¶

Tests if the value is a literal x. FIRRTL doesn’t have a notion of ‘x per-se, but x can come in to the system from external modules and from SV constructs.
Verification constructs need to explicitly test for ‘x.

circt.plusargs.value ¶

Tests and extracts a value from simulator command line options with SystemVerilog $value$plusargs. This is described in SystemVerilog 2012 section 21.6.

We do not currently check that the format string substitution flag matches the type of the result.

circt.plusargs.test ¶

Tests simulator command line options with SystemVerilog $test$plusargs. This is described in SystemVerilog 2012 section 21.6.